The Seven Penitential Psalms (Psalms 6; 32; 38; 51; 102; 130 and 143)

The Seven Penitential Psalms are seven prayers of repentance that are found throughout the book of Psalms. They were traditionally considered to have been written by King David, who repented of the sin of adultery and was therefore viewed as a model penitent.

In the medieval Church in particular, the Seven Penitential Psalms were often used as prayers of repentance. They were included in a wildly popular prayer book called the Book of Hours and used in both private and public devotion. Two of the most significant were the Miserére (Mercy) prayer of Psalm 51 and the De Profúndis (“Out of the depths”) prayer of Psalm 130, which was often prayed for the dead.

Pope Benedict XVI explained: “One of the Psalms best-known and best-loved in Christian tradition has just been proclaimed: the De Profundis, as it was called from its beginning in the Latin version. With the Miserere, it has become one of the favourite penitential Psalms of popular devotion.” 

He went on: “Over and above its use at funerals, the text is first and foremost a hymn to divine mercy and to the reconciliation between the sinner and the Lord, a God who is just but always prepared to show himself “a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity, continuing his kindness for a thousand generations, and forgiving wickedness and crime and sin” (Exodus 34: 6-7).”

In the Old Testament, we read that King David wore sackcloth, fasted and wept before God, in a bid to obtain his mercy (2 Samuel 12:12,22; 1 Chronicles 21:16). The reflections included in these psalms mirror this commitment to both interior conversion and physical penance.

This image of David is taken from a Book of Hours dating to 1518. This printed work is found within the archives of Downside Abbey and is used with their kind permission. It’s beautifully illustrated throughout with colourful biblical scenes. This one is of David kneeling as he is given holy bread by Ahimelech the priest (1 Samuel 21:1-6). The picture establishes him as not only a man of penance, but as a symbol of someone receiving the Eucharist.

The scene is captioned with the opening words of the First Penitential Psalm (Psalm 6) in Latin: Domine ne in furore tuo arguas me: neque in ira tua corripias me. Miserere mei Domine, quoniam infirmus sum. This means ‘Lord, do not reprove me in your fury, nor correct me in your anger. Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am weak.’ The image is then followed by all seven of the Penitential Psalms.

See the full image:

Where to find this work of art
Downside Abbey Archives

Read the relevant passage
The Seven Penitential Psalms

On a similar theme

• From the Old Testament: Psalm 51 in particular is thought to relate to King David’s repentance over his affair with Bathsheba.
• From the New Testament: Traditionally, the woman who anointed Christ’s feet was also held up as a role model of repentance.